Adjustable back support device

ABSTRACT

A adjustable portable belt device for providing decompression support and therapeutic heating and/or cooling while preventing pressure against an incision or injured portion of the body. The support device being adjustable to enable the person to adjust the comfort level of the belt device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to an adjustable body support device which applies supportive pressure to desired areas of a person's body in a manner which protects a prescribed area of the body from pressure due to contact with other objects.

More particularly, the invention relates to an adjustable back support device which is portable and can be used basically anywhere, in any setting as needed to provide support for a person's back while avoiding the application of pressure or contact in a sensitive area such as where there is an injury or surgery has been performed. The device is useful for persons recovering from back surgery or those with a back injury.

2. Description of the Related Technology

The present disclosure relates to applicants' U.S. Pat. No. 6,588,020 issued Jul. 8, 203. The '020 patent is directed to a portable back support device for applying pressure to an area of a person's back while substantially eliminating pressure from a prescribed area of the back. A plurality of panels all connected to form a cover shaped to be placed on the back of a human torso are disclosed.

The '020 patent references U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,547,251, 5,146,625 and 5,062,414 in the description of related technology.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is directed to a portable support device for applying supportive pressure selectively such that a confined area is not subject to the supportive pressure of the other areas. The device also assists in reducing gravitational, or other, compression of the vertebrae in a person's spine.

Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a plan view of one embodiment according to the invention.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of one of the side panels of the invention.

FIG. 3 shows a center panel.

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 shows a perspective view with the belt fastened.

FIG. 6 shows a perspective view with the belt and straps fastened.

FIG. 7 is an exploded view of another embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The preferred embodiment of the invention provides a belt-like support device which is designed to be strapped around the waist or other part of a person's body. The device is easily adjustable. In one embodiment it is adjustable by adding or removing panels to add length to the belt. As will be come clear from the following description, the belt portions may be cut to shorten the belt length or longer belt portions may be used to lengthen the belt.

Panels are depicted in the drawing and they are of similar size and shape, however, it should be evident that panels of different lengths, widths and shapes are contemplated. In one preferred embodiment the device is generally shaped to fit the human torso and cover an area of the back between the shoulders and hips. The device includes structure which prevents pressure on a prescribed back area, such as an area which has been sutured or is otherwise recovering from injury or surgery. Contact with a sutured healing area can also cause irritation, lengthen healing time and prevent contact with air that promotes healing. The supportive device is also designed to relieve pressure on a person's vertebrae.

A person recovering from back surgery must be able to sit or lie in a back resting position without having pressure against the surgically recovering portion of the vertebrae. This is important for people recuperating at home and can be particularly important for persons who have returned to work and perform desk work such as secretaries, draftsmen, and the like whose seating arrangements would otherwise press against the back area where surgery has been performed. The supportive device or portable belt is adjustable to adjust the tension without removing or unfastening the belt. This is very helpful in that it permits frequent adjustment to maintain an acceptable level of comfort for the user.

The present invention provides a portable support device which may be used to provide acceptable support and comfort for a person while seated or lying down.

An optional feature is to provide a back support device that relieves compressive forces on the vertebrae.

A further additional feature is providing a sleep garment which protects a portion of a person's back (having stitches, etc.) from pressures and contact with different objects encountered when lying prone and turning while asleep.

Yet another aspect of the invention is that it allows mobility for persons recovering from, for example, spine surgery whereby they are able to use mass transit, their own personal automobile, etc. so as to be able to lean back against a seat or other support without pressure on, or contact with, portions of the person's back side.

The device also provides hot or cold pressure to assist in recovery from back surgery or to relieve back discomfort.

As seen in FIG. 1 of the drawing there is shown an adjustable portable belt device 1 having three generally vertically extending panels 7, 8, 9. The adjustable portable belt device 1 has as elastic belt or belt portion 2 and an elastic belt or belt portion 3. Belts 2 and 3 may be portions of the same monolithic piece of elastic (as best seen in FIG. 1) or they may be separate pieces joined together (as best seen in FIGS. 4-7). In the embodiment of FIG. 4 panels 7, 8 , 9 are one piece with separate belts 2, 3 joined at the ends. In the embodiment of FIG. 7, elastic belt 2 is removably connected to panel 7, panel 7 is removably connected to panel 8 and panel 8 is removably connected to panel 9. In the present drawings, line 24 (see especially FIG. 1) depicts the belt device length direction and line 25 depicts the belt device width direction.

Panel 9 is removably connected to elastic belt 3. In one preferred embodiment each elastic belt portion 2, 3 is made out of a typically light-weight but strong elastic fabric 11 with loops 12 (in the drawings the loops are distributed over the surface of fabric 11) or other similar connectors on one side. Preferably the elastic fabric 11 is severable by a conventional household scissors or other similar cutting device so as to permit either, or both, belt portions 2 and 3 to be cut to a desired length. This will permit a user to be able to connect the desired number of panels to belts 2 and 3 then cut excess length from the belt end(s) so that each time the belt device 1 is used it will be of the correct relative length without too much excess length.

One end of belt portion 3 has a belt fastener 6 (FIG. 4). Fastener 6 is a section of fabric with hooks 13 or other similar type connectors on one side. Fastener 6 may be removable or permanently affixed to the belt 2, 3. As is evident from FIGS. 5 and 6 the belt may be wrapped around the desired body area and joined by fastener 6 which overlaps the end portion 23 of belt portion 3 and the end 22 of belt portion 2. One end of fastener 6 is attached to one end of belt 3 (as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5) and the opposite end of fastener 6 is attached to any portion of the belt 2 from the end 22 up to a panel (7, 8, or 9) so as to firmly attach the belt to the desired part of the person's body. When the belt device 1 is wrapped around the body the elastic belts 2, 3 are stretched as desired by the user to firmly secure the belt and apply a comfortable amount of tension on the belt 2, 3.

Belt device 1 has elastic straps 4, 5 for additionally adjusting the tension in belt device 1. Two elastic straps are shown, however, fewer or more such straps may be provided. One end of strap 5 may be fixed to the belt 3 at or near to its connection with panel 9 or as seen in FIG. 1 at or near panel 8. Elastic strap 5 can be stretched and then joined to underlying belt 3 thereby adding tension to the belt 3 and thus, to the belt device 1. Hook type fasteners 113 on one side of strap 5 are used to releasably join to the loops shown on the substantially on the entire surface of stretched belt 3 to maintain the belt 3 and belt device 1 in the position with the additionally applied tension from strap 5. Further belt device tension may be applied by stretching elastic strap 4 and then joining it to belt 2 thereby adding the additional tension in stretched strap 4 to belt 2. Thus, belt device 1 has tension from belts 2, 3 and additional tension from each of straps 4, 5. In an alternative embodiment straps 4 and 5 may comprise an elastic member with strap fastener 10 at one end as seen in FIGS. 4 and 5. Strap fastener 10 is like belt fastener 6 in that strap fastener 10 is a section of fabric with hooks 213 or other similar type connectors on one side. Fastener 10 may be removable or permanently affixed to the strap 4, 5. As is evident from FIG. 1 the strap fastener 10 may be joined to overlap one end of strap 5 and a portion of belt 3. One end of strap fastener 10 is attached at or near one end of belt 3 (as shown in FIG. 6) and the opposite end of strap fastener 10 is attached to any portion of the belt 3 so as to add tension to belt 3 and adjust belt device 1 as desired by the user. When using strap fasteners 10 the strap 4, 5 may or may not have loops 113 as desired.

It should be evident that while hooks are described on one surface and loops are described on a connecting surface, replacing the hooks with loops and the loops with hooks is also contemplated.

In a preferred embodiment straps 4 and 5, like belts 2 and 3 comprise an elastic sheet of fabric with hook or loop type fasteners affixed to one surface. In this manner a strap fastener 10 with hook 213 type fasteners on its underside (as seen in FIG. 7) can be attached to the top side (as seen in FIG. 1) of strap 5 and to the top side (as seen in FIG. 7) of belt 3. The same is true for strap 4 and belt 2.

Belt device 1 may include a plurality of panels 7, 8, 9. The number of panels and their arrangement may vary depending on the body area to be covered. The panels may be sewn together or releasably fastened together. In the construction shown in FIG. 1 the center panel 8 is generally air permeable so that air can promote healing of the affected area. The center panel 8 is made of one layer of thin mesh-like material 30 (FIG. 4) and a backing layer 31 with an opening 14. Opening 14 is large enough to surround a prescribed area of a person's anatomy to protect that area from pressure. In panel 8 a space is provided between the mesh-like material 30 and the backing layer 31 area for insertion and removal of an absorbent pad or dressing (not shown). The absorbent pad or dressing may reside between the mesh material 30 and the persons body by being hung on the mesh or provided on the person by being affixed (taped, etc.) to the person over the sutured incision. The mesh-like layer 30 loosely supports the absorbent pad or dressing. The backing layer 31 takes the tension on the belt device through the panel 8 so that the mesh-like material 30 can loosely fit over the panel 8, supports any pad or dressing, but will not press against the underlying prescribed area. In panels 7, 9 a space or pocket is provided between the mesh-like material 30 and the backing layer 31 for insertion and removal of a removable pack 32 (FIG. 2) of a hot or cold temperature retaining material for applying therapeutic thermal treatment. The panels 7 and 9 (FIG. 2) on either side of the center panel 8 (FIG. 3) have a thickness of ½ inch to three inches greater than the thickness of the center panel 8. All of the panels need not be of the same thickness and the thickness difference between panel 8 and, for example, panel 7 may reside in a pack 32 in the pocket of the panel 7. One edge of mesh-like material 30 may be releasably fixed by a pocket fastener 33 (as by a snap, button/hole, hook and loop, etc.) to panel 7, 8, 9 to permit insertion and removal of pack 32 into the pocket 34. It being understood that the other edges of the mesh-like material 30 are releasably or permanently fixed to the backing 31 along the periphery of the panels 7, 8, 9. For example, the mesh portion of center panel 8 may be removable fixed (as by hook and loop fasteners, buttons, snaps, etc.) to permit removal of the mesh to gain access to a bandage for cleaning of a wound and application of a clean bandage. The mesh portion may be fixed to panels 7 and 9 by being sewn to permanently fix the mesh to the panel.

The pockets 34 may be filled with an inflatable bag, with foam rubber as well as provided with a hot/cold gel pack 32. A suitable gel thermal pack that may be heated or cooled is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,756,311. The panels 7, 8, 9 and pockets 34 may vary in shape, size and number.

When the belt device 1 is placed on a persons back such that the center panel 8 overlies the vertebrae the thickness of the adjacent panels 7, 9 prevents pressure on the center panel area when the person is seated or lying down. The pressure against the persons back is against the thicker side panels 7, 9, not the portion of their back covered by the thinner center panel 8. Thus the center panel 8 will cover an incision area while at the same time avoiding pressure being applied to the incision area. The difference in thickness between the center 8 and adjacent panels 7, 9 is great enough to permit a dressing to cover the sutured area without pressure.

As described above, when the adjustable belt device 1 is firmly affixed to a person's torso the panels 7, 8, 9 support the back or lumbar region so as to apply decompressive forces to the vertebrae. Stays or stiffeners 15 maintain the width of the belt and enhance this effect. Rigid stays 15 may be contoured to provide better support and comfort to the back or other body portion. As seen in for example FIG. 2, stay or stiffener 15 is held in place in a pocket of the belt device 1. Such pockets (shown in each of FIGS. 1-7) confine the contoured stiffener 15 to the desired location so as to advantageously apply pressure to the underlying body area. Stays or stiffeners 15 may be removed from the pockets to prevent support in an undesirable area. Removal of one or more stays 15 softens the feel of the belt device for the user and thus provides a greater range of comfort and support. The stays 15 may be retained in the pockets with or without a pocket fastener, like pocket fastener 33.

As best seen in FIG. 1, belt device 1 is shaped to accept tensional loading but not compression loading. Belts 2, 3 are elastic fabric which permits the panels to be stretched apart along length axis 24 so that the belt device is stretched taut (absorbs tensional loading) while the panel 8 has opening 14 to allow air circulation (FIG. 3) and prevent the application of pressure (does not permit compression) to that area of the person's anatomy.

Although the present invention has been described and illustrated in detail, it is to be clearly understood that the same is by way of illustration and example only, and is not to be taken by way of limitation. The spirit and scope of the present invention are to be limited only by the terms of the appended claims. 

1. An adjustable portable belt device for applying pressure to an area of a person while substantially eliminating pressure from a prescribed area comprising, a first elastic belt having a length and width, a first end and a second end, a second elastic belt having a length and width, a first end and a second end, a plurality of panels connected to span the second end of the first elastic belt and the second end of the second elastic belt, at least one belt fastener adapted to connect the first elastic belt and the second elastic belt to enable fastening the belt around a desired area of the body, a first elastic strap having a length, width, first end and second end, a second elastic strap having a length, width, first end and second end, a first portion of the first strap being fastened to the first elastic belt and a fastener to adjustably fasten a second portion of the first strap along the length of the first belt to adjust the tension along the length of the first belt, a first portion of the second strap being fastened to the second elastic belt and a fastener to adjustably fasten a second portion of the second strap along the length of the second belt to adjust the tension along the length of the second belt, wherein the belt device may be fastened with the at least one belt fastener to the desired body area to apply a first amount of tension and to form a continuous belt with the first and second straps being adjustably attached to the first and second belts, respectively, thereby enabling the user to further adjust the tension of the belt device.
 2. The adjustable portable belt device of claim 1 wherein the plurality of panels comprises a first panel forming a recessed covering for a prescribed area of the person's anatomy and being shaped to accept tensional loading but not compressional loading, and the plurality of panels comprise a second panel on one side of the first panel and a third panel on an opposite side of the first panel, and wherein the second and third panels have a thickness greater than the first panel.
 3. The adjustable portable belt device of claim 2 wherein the first panel has a support for removably holding a dressing.
 4. The adjustable portable belt device of claim 2 wherein the third and second panels are arranged so that supportive pressure is applied to a back area which is on two sides of a prescribed area.
 5. The adjustable portable belt device of claim 2 wherein the second and third panels are arranged so that supportive pressure is applied to a back area which substantially surrounds a prescribed area.
 6. The device of claim 2 wherein the at least one of the panels comprises an air permeable member.
 7. The device of claim 2 wherein at least one of the panels has one or more pockets containing a removable pack of a hot or cold temperature retaining material applying therapeutic thermal treatment.
 8. The device of claim 2 wherein the panels are arranged and designed to apply decompressive forces to the vertebrae.
 9. The device of claim 2 wherein the panels are removably connected to the belt via fasteners.
 10. The adjustable portable belt of claim 2 wherein the at least one of the first, second and third panels is removably connected to the belt via a hook and loop type fastener.
 11. The adjustable portable belt of claim 1 further comprising at least one rigid elongated contoured stay coupled to the belt.
 12. The adjustable portable belt of claim 1 wherein the width of the first elastic belt is greater than the width of the first elastic strap.
 13. The adjustable portable belt of claim 1 wherein one of the first elastic belt, second elastic belt, first elastic strap and second elastic strap is of material that can be cut with a scissors to enable adjustment of the length.
 14. An adjustable portable belt for applying pressure to an area of a person while substantially eliminating pressure from a prescribed area comprising, an elastic belt having a length and width, with the length having a first end and a second end, an intermediate portion of the length of the belt including a first panel coupled to the belt, a belt fastener adjustably connected to the first end for securing the first end of the belt to the second end of the belt to enable supportive pressure to be applied by the belt to a desired area of the body, at least one elastic strap having a length and width, the strap length extending along the length of the belt, a first portion of the strap being fastened to the belt and a second portion of the strap having a strap fastener adapted to fasten the second portion of the strap to the belt, wherein the belt is adapted to be fastened to the desired body area to form a continuous belt and the second portion of the strap is adapted to be adjustably attached to a variety of locations along the length of the belt thereby enabling the user to adjust the tension of the belt by adjusting the point of attachment of the second portion of the strap.
 15. The adjustable portable belt device of claim 14 further comprising, a plurality of second panels connected to the first panel to form a cover shaped to be placed on the back of a human torso, the first panel forming a recessed covering for a prescribed area of the person's anatomy and being shaped to accept tensional loading but not compressional loading, the plurality of second panels each having a thickness greater than the first panel, whereby the first panel and second panels are arranged for applying pressure to an area of a person's back while substantially eliminating pressure from a prescribed area of the back.
 16. The adjustable portable belt of claim 15 wherein the panels are removably connected to the belt.
 17. The adjustable portable belt of claim 16 wherein the at least one panel is removably connected to the belt via a hook and loop type fastener.
 18. A kit of parts including, an elastic belt having a length and width, the belt comprising an elastic sheet with loop fasteners attached to one side of the sheet, at least one panel member having a sheet-like elastic backing and a mesh-like layer coupled to one side of the sheet-like elastic backing, an elastic strap comprising an elastic sheet with hook or loop fasteners attached to one side of the sheet, the elastic strap having a shorter length than the elastic belt and a width different from the elastic belt, and at least two fasteners, each fastener comprising a sheet with hook or loop fasteners attached to one side of the sheet.
 19. An adjustable portable belt for applying pressure to an area of a person while substantially eliminating pressure from a prescribed area comprising, an elastic belt having a length and width, with the length having a first end and a second end, an intermediate portion of the length of the belt including a first panel coupled to the belt, a belt fastener adjustably connected to the first end for securing the first end of the belt to the second end of the belt to enable supportive pressure to be applied by the belt to a desired area of the body, means for adjusting the tension on the belt without adjusting the belt fastener.
 20. The adjustable portable belt device of claim 2 wherein the first panel has an opening covered by a removable covering. 